The school of engineering honored three junior faculty members with the E. Lawrence Keyes, Jr./Emerson Electric Co. Faculty Advancement Award on May 10. The award recognizes young faculty members who have established vibrant teaching and research programs early in their careers at Princeton.

James Link, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, uses molecular biological and chemical engineering techniques to discover proteins for use in antibiotics and cancer-fighting drugs. Of the five papers he’s published since joining the Princeton faculty, all have included undergraduate coauthors. He also developed a new course, Biomolecular Engineering, which has been popular among undergraduates and graduate students.

Michael McAlpine, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, focuses on energy harvesting, nanomaterials and biomimetic sensors. His recently developed a technique for mounting piezo-electric devices on silicone rubber sheets, with the intention of using this material to harness movements of the body to power portable electronic devices. He currently supervises four doctoral candidates and has participated in several science outreach programs for local schools.

Gerard Wysocki, an assistant professor of electrical engineering, studies the analysis, design and application of compact low-power sensors for detecting trace gases in the environment. His work has applications in a broad range of fields, including health, security and environmental monitoring. He has been a popular teacher among undergraduates and recently developed a new graduate course in optics and electronics.